Indian Antiquary Vol 22

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 94

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
MARCH, 1893.
In this tale the golden hair leads up to a very simple and boldly stated variant of the impossible task as a preliminary to marriage, which is often really nothing but a folktale reminiscence of the ancient custom of the swayamvara. Many instances will be found colJected at p. 430 of Wide-awake Stories.
Flute stories are as common in India as in Europe. Perhaps the best of all in the East is the exquisite Panjabi talo of " Little Anklebone," which is comparable to Grimm's " Sinning Dime. This tale is known in the Pañjab as “Giléļa Rám" and is to be found in Wide-ecake Stories, pp. 127 ff.
i have quoted above froin Wide-awale Stories, as that is the latest publication, so far as I know, giving a collection of incidents in Indian folktales, but, from the many folktales from all parts of India published in this Journal in the eight years that have elapsed since that book was issned. nany further instances could be easily adduced in support of the above notes.
A FOLKTALE OF THE LUSHAIS. BY BERNARD HOUGHTON, C.S.
The Story of Kingôri. Her father, who was unmarried, was splitting bamboos to make a winnowing basket, when he van a splinter into his hand. The splinter grew into a little child (After a time) the child was brought forth motherless and they called her Kangori. Even as a grain of rice swells in the cooking, - little by little she grew big. Two or three years passed by and she became a maiden. She was very pretty, and all the young men of the village were rivals for her favour: but her father kept her close and permitted no one to approach her. There was a young man named Keimi. He took up the impression of her foot from the ground) and placed it on the bamboo grating over the house.fire (there to dry and shrivel up), and so it fell out that Kangori became ill.
Küngüri's father said. "If there be any one that can cure her, he shall have my daughter." All the villagers tried, but not one of them could do any good. However (at last) Kéimi came.
I will cure her, and I will marry her afterwards," said he. Her father said, "Cure the girl first and you may then lare her."
So she was cured. The foot-print, which he had placed to dry on the fire-shelf, he opened out and scattered to the wind Kauguri became well and Klimi married her. "Come, Kangöri," said le, will you go to my honse?" So they went. On the road Kêimi turned himself into a tiger. hüngüri caught hold of his tail, and they ran like the wind. (It so happened) that some women of the village were gathering wood, and they saw all this; so they went back home to Kingöri's father and anid, "Your laughter has got a tiger for a husband." Kangöri's father said, "Whoever can go and take Kangori may have her;” but no one had the courage to take her. However, Plothir and Hrangchal, two friends, said, "We will go and try our fortune." Kangöri's father said,
If you are able to take her you may have her;" so Phôthir and Hrangch&l set off. Going on, they came t imis village. The young man Keimi had gone out hunting. Before going into the house Phithur and Hrangehal went to Küngöri. "Küngöri," said they, "where is your husband ?" "He in die hunting," she said. " but will be home directly." On this they becaine afraid, and Phöthir and Hrangehal climbed upon to the top of the high fire-shelf. Kúngöri's husband arrived.
I smell the smell of a man." said he. "It must be me, whom you smell," said Kongori. Night fell, everyon ite their dinners and lay down to rest. In the morning Kängöri's husband again wint out to hunt. A widow came and said (to the two friends)," If you are going to run away with Kungöri take fire-seed, thorn-seed, and water-seed with you)." So they took fire-seed, thorn wood, and water-seed; and they took Küngüri also and carried her off.
Kanguri's husband returned home. He looked and found Küngöri was gone; so he followed after theju in hot haste. A little bird called to Hrangehal: "Run! run! Kongøri's husband will catch you," said the bird. So the friends) scattered the fire-seed, and the fire sprung up and) the jungle and ruder-growth burnt furiously, so that Küngöri's husband could not come any farther. When the tire subsided, he again resnmd the pursuit.
From Major T. H. Lewiu's Progresice Exercises in the Lushai Dialect, Calcutta, 1891. The story was taken down by the cathor as told by a Lusbai.)